5 Reasons ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ Is Actually Great

Ten years ago today, the long-awaited fourth installment of Indiana Jones hit theaters. With the return of original cast members like Harrison Ford and Karen Allen (as well as director Steven Spielberg), it seemed like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was set up for success. The 1957-set film may boast a commendable 77% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but since its release, the film has been largely dragged by critics and fans alike. No film is without flaws, and this fourth Indiana Jones certainly isn’t, but I’m here to argue that it is not deserving of most of the flack it catches.

As much of a mouthful as it may be, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a damn blast. Old characters reunite, bond with new characters, and face formidable foes. There may be some ridiculous elements at play, sure, but Indy 4 leans fully into its absurdity and is better for it. If you’re mad about the aliens, I get it. But there’s so much to love here! It’s self-indulgent! It’s nostalgic! It’s totally silly at times! And that’s why it’s so great. The film is a flashy blockbuster through and through, with enough camp and cheese to push you through its 2-hour runtime and beyond. Embrace its cartoonish glory and you will have a much, much better viewing experience.

Here are five things – some objectively insane, some thoroughly wonderful – that make Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull great. (There are no snakes included on this list).

SAVED! BY! THE! FRIDGE!

How self-serious do you have to be not to find this nuclear survival scenario absolutely hilarious? Watching Indy attempt to find a way out of this situation with some 10 seconds to spare and turning to the REFRIGERATOR for shelter is far and away the most absurd thing that has ever happened to this franchise. If the mere notion wasn’t insane enough, the fact that he emerges from the refrigerator totally unscathed after it has seemingly flown miles (and then interacts with a scared gopher) makes it even better. Many haters cite this scene as the moment they knew this movie was trash. I disagree. This is the moment I knew it was campy gold.

The Enduring Indy/Marion Banter

The whole -Mutt is Marion and Indy’s son- reveal may not be a total shock, but it does gift us with a reunion of our two favorite lovers. Even when they’re bickering after all these years, there’s still a serious spark between Indy and Marion. Who doesn’t love Mr. Grump attempting to one-up fiery Marion, the one woman who knows how to put him in his place? The narrative gaps in their relationship may not be totally filled, but getting to watch them banter again is enough to make us swoon a few times over.

The Bar-Fight-Turned-Motorcycle-Chase

Say what you want about the action sequences in this movie, but this bar-fight-turned-motorcycle-chase is classic Indy – and you can smell the Spielberg all over it. What starts out as an inadvertent diner brawl between the jocks and greasers (“get that greaser!”) turns into Shia LaBeouf’s Mutt speeding away from the Russians around town, through campus, and into a library with a frazzled Indy hanging onto him with all his might. There are hilariously on-the-nose moments of dialogue (“This is crazy! Somebody’s gonna get hurt!”) and comic exchanges, Shia LaBeouf scream face, and shamelessly nostalgic employment of the iconic theme music. I don’t mean to shame you, but if you don’t smile once in this sequence, do you have a soul?

Greaser Shia LaBeouf, Baby!

Shia LaBeouf is undeniably a divisive dude, but his relentlessly hammy performance in this movie could not fit in better with its overall tone of silliness. His little smarmy self gets put in his place quite a few times over the course of the movie, and watching him attempt to navigate the jungle in a leather jacket while swinging alongside some enthusiastic monkeys is too incredible of a visual gag to resist. Whether he’s fixing his hair, bringing a knife to a gunfight, or screaming the way he’s wont to do, LaBeouf may be Indy 4‘s underrated MVP.

Cate Blanchett's Soviet Super-Villain

Not a soul on this planet can deny that Cate Blanchett can do pretty much anything, and her Soviet villain Colonel Dr. Irina Spalko is no exception. Aside from being thoroughly sinister and totally fierce, she’s also a style icon. That harsh bob! The steely glares! The iconic grey uniform! The SUNGLASSES. She kicks everyone’s asses a few times over. She kicks Shia LaBeouf in the FACE! Irina Spalko may as well be a comic book villain, and she makes every over-the-top Russian-accented scene a truly outrageous romp.